The importance of participating

Why should I participate in this re-screen?

Your participation in the 2010/2011 study was greatly appreciated and the data collected contributed to a number of scientific publicationshttp://group.hrbchdr.com/publications .Diabetes (high blood sugar) and heart disease are very common in our community and often go undetected. Early detection of such conditions is crucial so that they can be treated and their complications prevented. If you attended in 2010/2011 we strongly urge you to participate in this re-screen, whether or not you have diabetes or heart disease, or any other illness, as the success of the study will depend on individual’s participation. The results should be of benefit to you and to others.

Participation in all aspects this study is, of course, voluntary and free of charge. Participation will not affect your usual care in the clinic.

Prior to your visit to the clinic you will receive a pack in the post. This will contain the following:

A letter with details of your scheduled appointment

A food frequency questionnaire- (to be filled out and returned on first visit)

A short self-complete questionnaire (to be filled out and returned on first visit)

Two consent forms (one to be signed and returned)

A urine sample container (to collect sample to be brought along to first visit)

For the population over 65 years, you will have the opportunity to participate in a sub-study of gut microbiota in which a stool sample is collected. Alterations in the gut bacteria are increasingly linked to variations in health including obesity, and inflammatory conditions. This sub-study is done in collaboration with the APC Microbiome Institute and scientists working on the ELDERMET project. For more information on the study of gut microbiota and aging, please visit http://eldermet.ucc.ie/ . Your decision to participate or decline participation in this sub-study will not affect your participation in the Mitchelstown Cohort Rescreen.

What will the appointment involve?

You will be invited to attend the LivingHealth Clinic where you will be met by one of our research team. Fasting bloods will be obtained and tested for sugar and cholesterol (other tests to be confirmed this week). The test results will be returned to your GP. You will be asked to bring along a first morning specimen of urine (i.e. urine passed first thing in the morning of the health check). You will receive a physical examination including height, weight, waist and calf circumference, blood pressure measurements and hand grip strength. We recommend wearing loose fitting clothing to make rolling-up sleeve or pant legs more comfortable. A member of our research team will then hold an interview style discussion about your health, medical history and lifestyle. You will be asked to bring all your current medication(s), and any vitamins, minerals or supplements that you take regularly.

Prior to your appointment you may be asked if you will consent to wearing a small device which will measure your blood pressure at intervals over 24 hours. This day will be one suitable to you. This will provide us and you with valuable information concerning your blood pressure over a 24 hour period. These measurements will be forwarded to your GP for review. You may also be asked to wear two small, water-proofed, non-invasive devices (on your wrist and thigh) which measure your physical movement over 7 days. These devices will be returned after 7 days and the information downloaded.

We will carry out these health checks in the Living Health Centre, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork from the end of October 2015 onwards. All tests will be analysed in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork and you will be notified when the results will be available.

If you were a participant in 2010, you will receive an invitation with the above information in the post. Please indicate on the enclosed reply slip whether or not you would like to take part. Please return this slip to us in the stamped addressed envelope even if you would prefer not to take part as this will prevent us contacting you unnecessarily.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Declan Herlihy

Prof. Ivan Perry

Dr. Janas Harrington

We hope you find the website useful. Please contact us if you have any queries you wish to discuss. (See the contact section for details)

This study is coordinated by the Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College Cork in collaboration with the Living Health Clinic, Mitchelstown. All study protocols have been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of University College Cork